Imagine a society in which even a child born into the most desperate poverty can become a brain surgeon, a concert pianist or a sports hero.
Our dream for South Africa is of an open opportunity society in which every person is free, secure and equal, where everyone has the opportunity to improve the quality of his life and pursue her dreams, and in which every language and culture has equal respect and recognition.
This is the dream we will deliver – the South African dream of one nation, with one future, living together under the constitution in peace, security and prosperity, with opportunity and recognition for all the rainbow people |
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 To all the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning people in SA (and the others who love you for the warm, wonderful people you are): We wish you all the very best of everything in this time of great concern to us in South Africa, and hope that all will turn out well in the outcome.
We encourage all of you to speak out when you see injustice, to take a stand against bigotry and hate, and to do your part in any way you feel you can to further the cause of our collective human rights and equality. Spread the news, tell your friends, tell your family, have them stand beside you.
You do not have to be gay or lesbian or transgender or bi or intersex to be a NGLA rights advocate – you just need a love for freedom, democracy, equality – and a conscience.
Offer your assistance to groups taking up the fight for our rights and equality – there are quite a few in SA who need as much support as they can get, in any way that you can offer it. Give your co-operation and assistance to the political parties who support our rights and equality, and offer your help when they need extra volunteers at polling stations etc. Get involved in societies and groups and politics to ensure that we have a voice in this country that will not be silenced by those who would persecute us. Do not let what happened in the rest of Africa happen here as well.
And above all, VOTE – and vote WELL! See you on the other side of the election Protestors outside the HRC’s offices in Johannesburg.Jon Qwelane, the writer behind the infamous homophobic Sunday Sun article, is to be taken to the Equality Court, the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) said today.
This was announced by the CEO of the HRC, Adv. Tseliso Thipanyane, at a meeting with protestors who gathered outside its Johannesburg offices to demonstrate against the organisation’s delay in making a ruling on the matter.
The HRC said that it received around 350 complaints after the Sunday Sun published the July 20 article, titled Call me names, but gay is NOT okay...
The article equated homosexuality with bestiality, praised Robert Mugabe's oppression of gays and lesbians and encouraged the removal of the sexual-orientation protection clause from the constitution.
In July, the Press Ombudsman ordered the Sunday Sun to apologise for the article but fell short of declaring the piece hate speech and refused to recommend any sanctions against Qwelane himself.
Adv. Tseliso Thipanyane, CEO of the HRC.The LGBT community then looked to the HRC to take a position on matter, but the commission’s delay in doing so led to today’s protest.
“It’s an unfortunate matter because we have always been clear on LGBT rights. This was not handled as it should have been and we apologise for the lack of communication. It [the matter] should have been handled faster than it was,” Thipanyane admitted to the protest organisers.
In a statement issued to the protestors, the commission said that it believed that “the language used by Mr Qwelane is not consistent with the spirit and values of the constitution, and it’s hurtful at the least.”
The commission further acknowledged that homophobia is contrary to the inherent rights guaranteed in the constitution and is a common reality for many South Africans.
“This prejudice is experienced in the extreme by the attacks, rapes and even murders of gay and particularly lesbian persons, solely because of their sexual orientation,” it said.
The HRC explained that in light of Qwelane’s comments that he would refuse to abide by any ruling against him by the commission, and due to the importance of the matter, it had decided to refer the issue to the Equality Court.
Thipanyane said that the commission had not ruled out that the article could be classified as hate speech, and that this would be decided by the court.
Members of the HRC meet with protestors.The HRC added that the court’s decision would be a “binding pronouncement, which will serve as a precedent in future matters.” It further said that it hoped Qwelane would collaborate with it in the matter.
At the meeting in the HRC’s boardroom, to which the protestors and media were invited, Thipanyane said that the commission was also looking into the issue of criminalising hate crimes. “Government needs to pass hate crimes laws,” he said.
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